DESIGN OF A SOLAR PV SYSTEM FOR POWER GENERATION AT MABIRA PRIMARY SCHOOL

Problem statement

Lack of reliable electricity at Mabira primary school is one among the reasons for the poor performance of pupils at Mabira Primary school because the pupils cannot study at night.

Main objective

To design a  solar PV system for power generation at Mabira primary school that will provide reliable and affordable electricity to make pupils study at night.

Specific objectives

• Determine solar irradiation level at the site including other parameters such as temperature, Humidity, sunshine hour duration.
• To design and size a solar PV system to electrify Mabira Primary School
• To develop and Test the solar PV system

SIZING AND SELECTION OF SYSTEM COMPONENTS

PANEL SIZING

Daily load Energy Requirement = 3390 Wh

   Total power 3390 W

 Power losses 

 Wiring and connection losses = 10%

 Losses in the battery = 20%

 Total losses = 30%.

Daily system energy loss = 30% x daily load energy demand

                  = 30% x 3390

                  = 1017 Wh 

Daily system energy requirement (DSER)

     DSER = Daily load energy requirement + daily system energy loss

                  = 3390 + 1017 = 4407 Wh or

     Safety factor = Total loss + daily energy demand = (20% + 10%) +100% = 1.3 

          DSER = 1.3 x daily load energy demand = 1.3 x 3390 = 4407 Wh or     

                   = 3390 + 1017

                   = 4407 Wh

Daily maximum power requirement (DMPR).

                DMPR = (𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑊ℎ/𝑑𝑎𝑦)/(𝐴𝑑𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟)                                                                             

                            =  (4407 Wh)/(0.85 )

                            = 5184.71 Wh

Peak power in watt (Wp)

                Peak power = (𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑊ℎ𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑃𝑉 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑒)/(𝑃𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑙 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟(𝑃𝐺𝐹)) 

                But PGF            = 0.61 × Average insolation

                                   = 5184.71/(0.61 𝑥 5.02) 

                                   = 1665.82Wp 

Daily maximum power requirement (DMPR).

                DMPR = (𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑊ℎ/𝑑𝑎𝑦)/(𝐴𝑑𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟)                                                                             

                            =  (4407 Wh)/(0.85 )

                            = 5184.71 Wh

Peak power in watt (Wp)

                Peak power = (𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑊ℎ𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑃𝑉 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑒)/(𝑃𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑙 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟(𝑃𝐺𝐹)) 

                But PGF      = 0.61 × Average insolation

                             = 5184.71/(0.61 𝑥 5.02) 

                             = 1665.82Wp 

 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM